Thursday, April 01, 2010 - GoGreen Newsletter

Bi-Monthly Newsletter April 1, 2010 Your Logo Could Be Here With A Link To Your Website! Click Here to find out how!   Your Logo Could Be Here!       Linked To Your Website!     Legislation Is the Mother of Green Invention   5 Mistakes Businesses Make Trying to Go Green    Mar 10, 2010 - Clearly it's good business to be green these days.  Environmental stewardship can benefit your company's brand, your workforce's morale, and your bottom line to boot, since customers will pay a premium for green products.   However, too many companies rush into 'going green' without giving enough thought to details, strategy, and the bigger picture goals of what they are trying to achieve. Here are the top five mistakes that companies make when trying to go green:   1. Assuming that 'green' is going to cost an arm and a leg Too many businesses hesitate to consider environmental policies because they assume that the green option is always going to be more expensive than the alternative.  While this is true in some cases (renewable energy), there are plenty of examples where making environmentally responsible business decisions can actually save money for your business.  Examples of this include going paperless, finding ways to reuse/recycle materials in operations and production, finding green tax breaks, and facilitating green commuting options for your workforce ( carsharing, public transit, telecommuting).  'Sustainability' is ultimately about making more efficient use of resources, and cutting waste is not only good for the earth - it is good business.  If you are strategic about how you do it, your business can save money by going green. 2. Underestimating your customers' ability to smell B.S. The biggest gripe I have about companies who try to 'go green' is when they underestimate customers' critical thinking skills and ability to smell B.S.  Just because your new product comes in green-colored packaging or uses the word 'eco' or 'organic' in it doesn't make it environmentally responsible, and your customers know this.  Expect them to read labels, ask questions about materials,  and use the internet and compare your product with competitors.  If you don't have anything substantially environmentally responsible to say, don't bother trying to greenwash . (Please take note 'eco' bottled-water companies!) 3. Assuming that beige packaging, the word 'organic' and/or a green leaf logo are what you need See point #2.  Symbolic 'green' gestures are no longer good enough. Every company with a green mission these days tries to flaunt their green credentials with green leaf logos and beige packaging, from greenwashers to the legitimately green. There is now such an onslaught of this empty symbolism that is becoming trite and meaningless.  A better business decision is to differentiate your company with a unique brand identity, and take time to convey your mission and green credentials to your customers with labels, packaging and strategic marketing.  A great example of a company that gets this is Method. This fun, brightly colored household-cleaning product brand is wedded in the minds of consumers with both style and eco-friendliness -- without ever relying on cliché green leaf logos or beige packaging. 4. Overestimating your customers' time and attention spans The polar opposite to the above problems is overestimating how much time and energy your customers have to research and understand your green offering.  As I mentioned in point #2, your customers are not stupid, but they also have lives and they don't have the time and energy to spend hours analyzing your carbon footprint and your products' lifecycle.  If you don't actively market and EXPLAIN your company's legitimate green initiatives - no-one is going to know about them.  Don't assume that because your business is doing the right thing, people are just going to naturally find out about it -- you need to tell consumers and market your green initiatives (thoughtfully of course).         5Share Sustainability requirements triggered by legislation should not be seen as roadblocks to innovation, but should be utilized as a springboard for new thinking and an opportunity for sustainable branding. By Marc Stoiber A few months back, I had a very interesting phone call with the marketing department of a major small engines manufacturer. The topic was green innovation branding. The department explained they’d been legislated into drastically improving the efficiency of their engines. What’s more, the future held even more efficiency-boosting legislation. I asked them how they were positioning these terrific efficiency innovations. Not at all, came the reply. Turns out the competition had been legislated into making the same improvements. Had the competition branded the improvements? No.   It seemed this department (and the competition) couldn’t see the golden opportunity to seize this innovation by legislation and claim it as a brand advantage. It was money left on the table.   A hot new buzzword making the rounds is open source innovation. Essentially, it urges companies to shatter R&D siloes and tap the collective imagination of fans for ideas.   But somehow, legislation isn’t considered one of those ‘open’ sources of innovation. Instead, it’s seen as punitive, and treated with fatalistic resignation.   The victim mentality   I believe this belies a victim’s mentality on the part of the company affected by the legislation. And victims can’t invent.   Raff Viton and Mike Maddock, colleagues of mine at Maddock Douglas, believe the sure sign of victim mentality is complaining about internal barriers to invention the budget is too small, the deadline is too tight, my boss is a tool, legal won’t approve it.   I would add legislation as another source of complaint. The complaint would go something like this: they forced us to do it, so it’s not really our innovation.   What is the outcome you want?   Viton and Maddock go on to describe a great way to turn a victim into a creator. Ask one simple question: “What is the outcome you want?”   If the small engine manufacturer asked themselves this, they would have replied “We want to create green innovation we can market.”   A 70% boost in efficiency is a terrific piece of innovation. Coupled with the company’s unique history (proudly American, with a long history of service to the country), it becomes a unique market advantage.   Love the legislation   Legislation doesn’t just come from government. Wal-Mart has diplomatically legislated suppliers to reduce packaging and – increasingly – green their products.   We’ve engaged with a number of these suppliers. All but one of them regarded Wal-Mart’s edicts as punitive. They resolved to ‘dodge’ them as long as possible, instead of rushing to comply.   Again, this is turning your back on a terrific opportunity.   Imagine you’re the first cellphone manufacturer in Wal-Mart to measure, declare, and reduce your packaging. Not only is this a great opportunity to refresh your look, but it will win you favor with your biggest buyer. That can translate into special displays.   Now imagine you use the package reduction opportunity and say “What more could we do to really leverage this opportunity?” Can you create a special promotion that invites consumers to engage and send you their green innovation ideas? Can you look at Wal-Mart’s environmental priorities and find ways to line up your own alongside them? Can you create a staff incentive program in your company to encourage ‘shop floor innovation’?   In other words, can you use legislation as the launchpad for building a better product, more efficient production, a more robust sustainability position, and more effective marketing?   Creators see obstacles as springboards for new thinking, not as an excuse to throw up their hands and give up.   Marc Stoiber is VP Green Innovation at Maddock Douglas, a leading innovation agency in Chicago.    5. Thinking that unless you can make everything 100% green and beyond reproach, there is no point in calling attention to your company's green credentials. This is a problem I am seeing more and more in the marketplace, as customer backlash to ' greenwashing' becomes more rampant.  Many companies who have legitimately green products and responsible manufacturing practices are now afraid to call any attention to themselves for fear of being called a ' greenwasher'.  What these companies need to understand is that the benefits of touting legitimate eco credentials are far greater than the risk of being called a greenwasher by a few cranks online.  Now that anyone can publish anything online, there are always going to be critical people out there with a chip on their shoulder or far too much time on their hands who might attack your company.  However, if your green policies are solid, and you are transparent with your communication - detailing green goals, policies and challenges online - supporters will rally to your side, and attacks from internet trolls should easily roll off your company's back.  Just be careful to be totally transparent and not make false claims about your product, as this could really jeopardize consumer goodwill and come back to haunt your business. (An example of this is when aluminum bottle manufacturer Sigg let it leak that their bottles had BPA in them - 3 years after they started marketing their bottles as BPA-free). Sustainable Manufacturing Summit Innovations in green products and climate strategies Chicago , USA: 11-12 May 2010   Through cutting edge case studies and discussion panels, the Sustainable Manufacturing Summit showcases the manufacturers leading the transition to sustainable and profitable manufacturing and offers the latest innovations in green products. This third annual event offers business executives of all levels practical advice and benchmarks for their own sustainability initiatives and the opportunity to understand the future direction of climate response.   Click here for more information About GoGreen The Go Green Association is an International Trade Association run by B & B Expositions, Inc. for Manufacturing and Industry catering to North, Central, South America, the Caribbean and Globally. The Go Green Association is dedicated to the advancement of Sustainability, Conservation and Recycling. Go Green will help companies acquire knowledge and follow procedures that will lead to more environmentally and ecologically responsible decisions, to benefit the only planet we have to live on.  Mother Earth. Companies can decrease their carbon footprint and promote healthier manufacturing practices. Efficient management coupled with sustainable environmental and community practices improve both a company’s bottom line and the world around it. Learn how to save energy to save money. Mission  The Go Green Association was created to assist it’s members in acquiring new business, to network with their peers from all over the world, and to address issues and concerns which could help a Manufacturer or Industrial Company become more streamlined and profitable while implementing Green Practices. Benefits 1. Become a link partner.  We place your logo with a link to your website in "Our Link Partners" section on our Homepage.  Valued at $495, for Free.  In return, you place the words "Green Manufacturing and Industry" linked to our website on your Homepage.  We help each other!  Contact us at  ianhow1@verizon.net if interested.   2. Have you seen our New Member benefits page? Check this out: http://www.dbsimarketing.com/finalgogreenlandingpage1109.html   3. Place a News Release or Advertisement here for FREE: http://gogreenassoc.com/News/tabid/175/language/en-US/Default.aspx The GoGreen Association 5336 Hunt Club Way Sarasota, Fl. 34238 USA 941-320-3216 Business Opportunity This a brand new business opportunity for GoGreen Members.  Utilize the extensive network you have developed with your business to earn income in ways you never dreamed possible.  Click Here for more information. Benefits GoGreen member companies receive a complimentary listing and URL link on the GoGreen Association Website.  Plus much more coming to benefit our members! Become a Sponsor There are many advantages to being a sponsor of the GoGreen Association. With hundreds of registered members and associates, increase traffic to your website and services. Submit Articles Are you a regsitered member and would like to have your voice heard in the newsletter?  Simply log in to the website and submit an article.  Your article may be selected by our staff and will be included in the newsletter. Casting Call The GoGreen Association is searching for guest columnists for our webstie and newsletter.  Please contact us if you have any ides, suggestions or if you would like to volunteer. Recent GoGreen News  About The Exhaust RegeneratorTM: Exhaust RegenerationTM is the process of turning high-speed exhaust from manufacturing and industrial operations into usable electricity. Read More...

Monday, March 15, 2010 - GoGreen Newsletter

Bi-Monthly Newsletter March 15, 2010 Your Logo Could Be Here With A Link To Your Website! Click Here to find out how!   Your Logo Could Be Here!       Linked To Your Website!     Three golden rules to going green in 2010 DATE: 02 Mar 2010 Sustainability expert Envirowise is encouraging manufacturers to put three golden rules for resource efficiency high on their agenda during 2010. Manufacturing Digital investigates Edited by Ian Armitage Going green continues to grow in importance and, in recent years, many big-name companies have realised their way towards more sustainable and eco-friendly business practices. Manufacturers like General Electric, Anheuser-Busch and Pratt & Whitney have all embraced the green agenda. It makes good business sense to do so. Sustainability expert Envirowise believes going green could save money, enhance reputations and improve competitiveness, recently revealing that companies not pursuing a green path could be losing out on a saving of as much as 1,000 pounds per employee, per year. To help manufacturers take advantage, the Government-funded programme dedicated to putting the sustainable use of resources at the heart of UK business practice, has come up with ?Three golden rules to going green in 2010?, designed to save money and lower environmental impacts in the year ahead. STEP1: STEP BACK ?Take a step back from your day-to-day operations and assess your raw material use in particular,? Envirowise says. A valid point. After all, are you missing opportunities to reduce product and packaging waste at source? If so, it might be worth reading ?Waste Mapping: Your route to more profit?, which is available free at: www.envirowise.gov.uk/en944. STEP 2: TEAM UP Envirowise recommends you invite your workforce to get involved in managing the environmental impact of your business, advising: ?The best ideas often come direct from the shopfloor so set-up a forum of environmental champions who can share ideas with the management team.? Again, Envirowise has a host of free information relating to this on its website. We?d recommend looking at the Envirowise Behaviour Change Tool at : www.envirowise.gov.uk/change. STEP 3: BUILDING LINKS Building links are vital. Try working more closely with your supply chain to assess products and services on an environmental as well as cost basis. If you are struggling for a starting point, a free, ?traffic-light? style toolkit to help businesses identify areas is available at: www.envirowise.gov.uk/green-procurement. SUMMARY These tips are great, but will they work? Well, Michael Savage, Envirowise Manufacturing Specialist, says they will and that companies should not underestimate the potential for resource efficiency to help them cut costs and future-proof their business,? adding that ?we know from experience that companies taking action to reduce waste for the first time can save up to 1,000 pounds per employee, per year, meaning small actions can be multiplied into big results.? He continues: ?Actions taken as a result of following these three golden rules could include simple yet highly effective measures, such as modifying the way waste is segregated and recycled. It may also prompt wider-ranging efficiencies such as re-designing products and packaging, using fewer raw materials, requiring less energy to manufacture and helping reduce product waste.? It?s not easy going green and for more practical advice on lowering your environmental impact during 2010 and securing the related cost savings, visit www.envirowise.gov.uk. LINK: www.envirowise.gov.uk   Sustainable Manufacturing Summit Innovations in green products and climate strategies Chicago , USA: 11-12 May 2010   Through cutting edge case studies and discussion panels, the Sustainable Manufacturing Summit showcases the manufacturers leading the transition to sustainable and profitable manufacturing and offers the latest innovations in green products. This third annual event offers business executives of all levels practical advice and benchmarks for their own sustainability initiatives and the opportunity to understand the future direction of climate response.   Click here for more information About GoGreen The Go Green Association is an International Trade Association run by B & B Expositions, Inc. for Manufacturing and Industry catering to North, Central, South America, the Caribbean and Globally. The Go Green Association is dedicated to the advancement of Sustainability, Conservation and Recycling. Go Green will help companies acquire knowledge and follow procedures that will lead to more environmentally and ecologically responsible decisions, to benefit the only planet we have to live on.  Mother Earth. Companies can decrease their carbon footprint and promote healthier manufacturing practices. Efficient management coupled with sustainable environmental and community practices improve both a company’s bottom line and the world around it. Learn how to save energy to save money. Mission  The Go Green Association was created to assist it’s members in acquiring new business, to network with their peers from all over the world, and to address issues and concerns which could help a Manufacturer or Industrial Company become more streamlined and profitable while implementing Green Practices. Benefits 1. Become a link partner.  We place your logo with a link to your website in "Our Link Partners" section on our Homepage.  Valued at $495, for Free.  In return, you place the words "Green Manufacturing and Industry" linked to our website on your Homepage.  We help each other!  Contact us at  ianhow1@verizon.net if interested.   2. Have you seen our New Member benefits page? Check this out: http://www.dbsimarketing.com/finalgogreenlandingpage1109.html   3. Place a News Release or Advertisement here for FREE: http://gogreenassoc.com/News/tabid/175/language/en-US/Default.aspx The GoGreen Association 5336 Hunt Club Way Sarasota, Fl. 34238 USA 941-320-3216 Business Opportunity This a brand new business opportunity for GoGreen Members.  Utilize the extensive network you have developed with your business to earn income in ways you never dreamed possible.  Click Here for more information. Benefits GoGreen member companies receive a complimentary listing and URL link on the GoGreen Association Website.  Plus much more coming to benefit our members! Become a Sponsor There are many advantages to being a sponsor of the GoGreen Association. With hundreds of registered members and associates, increase traffic to your website and services. Submit Articles Are you a regsitered member and would like to have your voice heard in the newsletter?  Simply log in to the website and submit an article.  Your article may be selected by our staff and will be included in the newsletter. Casting Call The GoGreen Association is searching for guest columnists for our webstie and newsletter.  Please contact us if you have any ides, suggestions or if you would like to volunteer. Recent GoGreen News About The Exhaust RegeneratorTM: Exhaust RegenerationTM is the process of turning high-speed exhaust from manufacturing and industrial operations into usable electricity. Read More...

Monday, March 01, 2010 - GoGreen Newsletter

Bi-Monthly Newsletter March 1, 2010 Your Logo Could Be Here With A Link To Your Website! Click Here to find out how! Logo   Logo Logo Logo Logo   Logo Logo Logo Texas Sustainability Conference Debates Eco-Business February 11, 2010 by pickupamerica By Sam Goering The University of Texas at Austin held its 2010 Sustainability Conference this past Friday, Feb. 5th, featuring keynote speakers a.k.a. corporate PR representatives from Walmart and Frito-Lay, as well as an impressive array of panel speakers comprised of local political and business leaders, professors, nonprofit managers, and other green company reps. Hosted by the McCombs School of Business for the third year in a row, the conference provided an intimate atmosphere for sustainability professionals and environmental newbies alike to discuss current and past trends in business and government sectors with regards to improving our world through sustainable recommendations. The conference was well-run and provides a working model for similar events to be hosted by other schools, but improvements could still be made. A lot of the attendees, and speakers even, seemed more concerned with helping their bottom lines through sustainability initiatives than actually helping the environment. Ironically, the billionaire figurehead for the business school, Red McCombs, has had his share of the negative environmental spotlight. See Jeff’s piece in High Country News. The abundance of topics covered (all interesting to me) had to be split into two separate, unofficial tracks of panels, policy and marketing (I chose policy), so that two panels were always going on at the same time. This led to the frustration of not being able to be in two places at once, alas Superman, and my idea for the suggestion box for next year: to spread the conference out over two days. I told this to my brother, a McCombs student and planning committee member, so hopefully this will be addressed next year. In honor of doppleganger week (I think Facebook should now have dopplegangbanger week) and continuing the Just the Two of Us theme, this dilemma also inspired a brilliant coaching strategy if you have identical twins on your team ( Bill Self may already employ this with the Morris brothers); switch the two players’ jerseys in select games so the defense never knows the strengths of which player is coming at them. Wise and otherwise, my two aliases, and the name of a Baldurdash spin-off, by far the silliest thing about the conference had to be the use of compostable cups, napkins and utensils but with the absence of compost bins. This is not good since trade shows and conferences have an enormous impact on waste emissions. People like the Frito-Lay representative are under the impression that these bioplastics made from corn stock will degrade in landfills, but simply put, sun, oxygen and microorganisms that eat that material are not permitted in the sealed landfills. The lack of available recycling bins also irked me, a campus-wide problem needing to be addressed by green groups at UT. The conference and surrounding campus weren’t the only people with waste management problems; I fell victim to some strange stomach bug. While fighting dysentery from either my breakfast taco or something I ate at lunch, your resilient and fearless reporter was able to keep a critical eye on the events, however. The Walmart (Warmall?) representative was not as convincing a speaker as the chum from Frito-Lay, perhaps because he was younger and it was the first thing in the morning when he spoke. Nonetheless, both companies have set global goals of using renewable energy, being zero waste, decreasing their supply footprint, and selling products that sustain people and the environment. This last goal is laughable considering their current globalized manifestations as two of the biggest companies exemplifying the consumeristic American lifestyle, obesity, plastics and all. Walmart has over 8,000 stores worldwide registering two million customers weekly, and Pepsico, which owns Frito-Lay, is a $43-60 billion dollar company that produces the two largest subsets of landfill items, food/chip bags and beverage containers. While it’s true their green initiatives combined with the scale of their companies have the chance to make a huge impact, that same ginormous scale of production places them in league with some of the largest waste-producers and is enough to make myself force vomit saturated fats all over their corporate jets. One panel was smart to raise the point that while they should be congratulated for taking steps to alleviate their footprints, for something is better than nothing, they still should be avoided by conscientious consumers since they aren’t sourcing locally through their support of national distribution systems and factory farming, putting small businesses and local entrepreneurs in jeopardy. Their companies are so big that it’s impossible to keep track of all their practices, have a small footprint, and “sell products that sustain people and the environment.” To be fair, I’ve listed some of their initiatives and statistics in a Word document, although a lot of them are buried in the percentage game. Notable improvements being made by both companies include modifying their distribution trucks to get better gas mileage, reducing waste sent to landfills from their outlets and factories, and using less or alternatively sourced energies. Frito-Lay should be commended for developing a compostable bag for their Sun Chips line, their “Prius brand” produced in solar-powered factories, while overcoming the necessity for an oxygen barrier by inserting a nano-thin aluminum barrier between two layers of PLA (biodegradable plastic). They plan to showcase this technology in the future by wrapping a building in Arizona and California with the material so daily travelers can see the degradation over time created by exposure to the elements. This technology will have tremendous benefits for end-of-life consumer packaging; now they just need to extend it to all their product lines. As far as sustainable policy trends, urban planners are realizing the need for a transport mode shift, more public transportation options, sourcing fresh food within 100 miles of a city, and building communities in walking distance of shops and restaurants in what is called an “urban village” model. Portland is the Mecca of this model, where nearly 50% of the population uses public transportation or bikes to work, and progressive communities across the country are increasingly following their lead. This main recommendation stems from the suburban sprawl development of the past half century, hence our reliance on cars to get around. In the future, people will hopefully be able to walk or bike to wherever they need to go. The call for a national building code to make buildings more energy-efficient was echoed as was the need for toxic releases laws for companies to disclose any toxic waste or ingredients they may be producing. The innovative ways businesses are starting to achieve standards without legislation is remarkable, but without some government or outside pressure, markets can deviate substantially from what free market theory suggests. The line between ethics and economic theory has grown thinner from generations ago. Tim Mohin from AMD brought up the point that young people are increasingly graduating into the workplace looking to devote their careers to jobs that have redeeming value, and businesses are having to accomodate that if they want talented workers. Way to go Generation X, Y and Millenials! Keep up the pressure on the oppressor! Unfortunately, this recession has not been good on small businesses and nonprofits, leaders of innovation and sustainable thinking. It has forced companies to make more efficient use of their resources, but has stymied investment in new products and research. While green products have definitely begun to dominate a share of the marketplace, consumers and businesses with tight budgets are choosing cheaper alternatives. Countries without as many regulations as America, due in part to free trade legislation, have cheaper resources to exploit and price those resources below their true values, and so rainforests and other diverse habitats are continuing to disappear, and fossil fuels are continuing to be extracted and used up. However, businesses employing these practices with no regard for the environment or communities around them will ultimately fail because they are not sustainable. Hope lies in communicating the science available to endangered or impoverished communities across the globe as well as supporting microfinancing, small interest-free loans to poor people in developing countries looking to start their own businesses. Going back in time, ancient communities had sustainable systems, and somewhere along the way that systems link was broken and was replaced by this industrial mega-rape in the name of more profits. That link needs to be repaired by voting with our dollars to support transparent, localized production based in sound science and human rights. About GoGreen The Go Green Association is an International Trade Association run by B & B Expositions, Inc. for Manufacturing and Industry catering to North, Central, South America, the Caribbean and Globally. The Go Green Association is dedicated to the advancement of Sustainability, Conservation and Recycling. Go Green will help companies acquire knowledge and follow procedures that will lead to more environmentally and ecologically responsible decisions, to benefit the only planet we have to live on.  Mother Earth. Companies can decrease their carbon footprint and promote healthier manufacturing practices. Efficient management coupled with sustainable environmental and community practices improve both a company’s bottom line and the world around it. Learn how to save energy to save money. Mission  The Go Green Association was created to assist it’s members in acquiring new business, to network with their peers from all over the world, and to address issues and concerns which could help a Manufacturer or Industrial Company become more streamlined and profitable while implementing Green Practices. Benefits 1. Become a link partner.  We place your logo with a link to your website in "Our Link Partners" section on our Homepage.  Valued at $495, for Free.  In return, you place the words "Green Manufacturing and Industry" linked to our website on your Homepage.  We help each other!  Contact us at  ianhow1@verizon.net if interested.   2. Have you seen our New Member benefits page? Check this out: http://www.dbsimarketing.com/finalgogreenlandingpage1109.html   3. Place a News Release or Advertisement here for FREE: http://gogreenassoc.com/News/tabid/175/language/en-US/Default.aspx The GoGreen Association 3354 17th Street Sarasota, Florida 34288 USA 941-320-3216 Business Opportunity This a brand new business opportunity for GoGreen Members.  Utilize the extensive network you have developed with your business to earn income in ways you never dreamed possible.  Click Here for more information. Benefits GoGreen member companies receive a complimentary listing and URL link on the GoGreen Association Website.  Plus much more coming to benefit our members! Become a Sponsor There are many advantages to being a sponsor of the GoGreen Association. With hundreds of registered members and associates, increase traffic to your website and services. Submit Articles Are you a regsitered member and would like to have your voice heard in the newsletter?  Simply log in to the website and submit an article.  Your article may be selected by our staff and will be included in the newsletter. Casting Call The GoGreen Association is searching for guest columnists for our webstie and newsletter.  Please contact us if you have any ides, suggestions or if you would like to volunteer. Recent GoGreen News About The Exhaust RegeneratorTM: Exhaust RegenerationTM is the process of turning high-speed exhaust from manufacturing and industrial operations into usable electricity. Read More...

Monday, February 15, 2010 - GoGreen Association Newsletter

Bi-Monthly Newsletter February 15, 2010 Your Logo Could Be Here With A Link To Your Website! Contact ianhow1@verizon.net to find out how! Logo   Logo Logo Logo Logo   Logo Logo Logo Dear Mattech Attendee/Exhibitor: A special note from MachineTools.com, inviting you to Find Machines and More! Search from over 70,000 machine, tooling, and accessory items that contain: * Photos * Videos * Specifications You are able to contact the sellers directly and if you can't find what you need, post a FREE Wanted. MachineTools.com has been the *#1 online source for metalworking machines and related products* and services for 11 years. Start your search today > http://www.machinetools.com/us/machines Featured Article Green Business Bureau Helps Businesses Go Green National Green Business Certification Demonstrates Companies Commitment to the Environment January 29, 2010 01:06 PM Eastern Time  HOUSTON--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--As customers demand their business partners prove their environmentally responsible business practices and commitment to serving the planet?s best interest, business owners must implement new processes ? but until now have not had an affordable means. Small businesses comprise 99% of all businesses in the United States, and account for 65% of all American consumption. We know that by teaching these companies the importance and steps to take to go green, we make a difference.? Enter Green Business Bureaus Green Business Certification. For less than $1,000 a year for most businesses, management can evaluate, plan, implement and track its environmental progress in virtually every aspect of its business ? and gain the green business certification it needs to demonstrate environmental stewardship to customers. At http://www.gbb.org, registered businesses access a unique online platform of educational tools, step-by-step implementation steps and certification programs to help them go green, as well as produce improved efficiencies, more value and cost-saving results for their efforts. First, Green Business Bureau provides companies with assessments and tracking systems to help determine their level of sustainability and an informative set of expert advice and measurable guidelines on how to progress to the next level of green business certification. Every set of initiatives is specifically designed to yield the maximum benefit for the environment, yet minimize the level of effort and investment for the company. Since 2008 the Green Business Bureau has been offering companies the opportunity to effectively and efficiently undertake their own green initiatives and be recognized as a certified green business through a respected organization. As businesses? levels of environmental consciousness progress further, they can display their green business seal in storefronts, media kits, Web sites, company vehicles and more. This  green business marketing edge and competitive advantage appeals to customers, suppliers and vendors ? most of who are under intense environmental scrutiny as well. ?Frequently, business owners realize they need to become involved in helping their environment as a way to save money, adhere to industry standards, or remain competitive, but aren't sure what steps need to be taken or what level of involvement they already have ? and how costly those un-orchestrated efforts might be within the company,? said Marcos Cordero, co-founder and CEO of the Green Business Bureau. The Green Business Bureau was established to provide the guidance and waypoints for companies to become green certified, utilizing easy-to-understand tools, resources that guide them through the greening process and a standard to measure against.? The Green Business Bureau was formed by industry professionals with experience in small- and medium-sized businesses as well as large corporate daily operations. With the  idealism of environmentalists and business sense of corporate executives, the founders created the Green Business Bureau to help both the environment and North American businesses thrive. We are thrilled to be able to educate businesses on the positive effects of going green and how it can help companies save money,  make an environmental impact, attract new customers, enhance employee loyalty, and create a marketing edge,? said Cordero. ?Small businesses comprise 99% of all businesses in the United States, and account for 65% of all American consumption. We know that by teaching these companies the importance and steps to take to go green, we make a difference.? About the Green Business Bureau The Green Business Bureau is North America?s rapidly rising standard for the way small- and medium-sized companies conduct green business. Companies worldwide are quickly recognizing the value in becoming a certified green business, whether to satisfy environmental laws, reduce carbon footprints or provide sustainable business offerings. The Green Business Bureau was founded with these goals in mind and helps to promote business practices that are both environmentally responsible and commercially beneficial. The Green Business Bureau serves as a nationally recognized third-party program that provides green business certification for businesses that follow environmentally responsible practices, while also offering easy-to-use tools and roadmaps to become even more eco-efficient, one step at a time. Contacts Ward Creative Communications Allie Herzog, 713-869-0707 aherzog@wardcc.com or Kyle Flanagan, 713-869-0707 kflanagan@wardcc.com About GoGreen The Go Green Association is an International Trade Association run by B & B Expositions, Inc. for Manufacturing and Industry catering to North, Central, South America, the Caribbean and Globally. The Go Green Association is dedicated to the advancement of Sustainability, Conservation and Recycling. Go Green will help companies acquire knowledge and follow procedures that will lead to more environmentally and ecologically responsible decisions, to benefit the only planet we have to live on.  Mother Earth. Companies can decrease their carbon footprint and promote healthier manufacturing practices. Efficient management coupled with sustainable environmental and community practices improve both a company’s bottom line and the world around it. Learn how to save energy to save money. Mission  The Go Green Association was created to assist it’s members in acquiring new business, to network with their peers from all over the world, and to address issues and concerns which could help a Manufacturer or Industrial Company become more streamlined and profitable while implementing Green Practices. Benefits 1. Become a link partner.  We place your logo with a link to your website in "Our Link Partners" section on our Homepage.  Valued at $495, for Free.  In return, you place the words "Green Manufacturing and Industry" linked to our website on your Homepage.  We help each other!  Contact us at  ianhow1@verizon.net if interested.   2. Have you seen our New Member benefits page? Check this out: http://www.dbsimarketing.com/finalgogreenlandingpage1109.html   3. Place a News Release or Advertisement here for FREE: http://gogreenassoc.com/News/tabid/175/language/en-US/Default.aspx The GoGreen Association 3354 17th Street Sarasota, Florida 34288 USA 941-320-3216 News Releases Send your news releases to us and you might have it / them published in our weekly newsletter, which will be sent to all of our members. Benefits GoGreen member companies receive a complimentary listing and URL link on the GoGreen Association Website.  Plus much more coming to benefit our members! Become a Sponsor There are many advantages to being a sponsor of the GoGreen Association. With hundreds of registered members and associates, increase traffic to your website and services. Submit Articles Are you a regsitered member and would like to have your voice heard in the newsletter?  Simply log in to the website and submit an article.  Your article may be selected by our staff and will be included in the newsletter. Casting Call The GoGreen Association is searching for guest columnists for our webstie and newsletter.  Please contact us if you have any ides, suggestions or if you would like to volunteer. Recent GoGreen News About The Exhaust RegeneratorTM: Exhaust RegenerationTM is the process of turning high-speed exhaust from manufacturing and industrial operations into usable electricity. Read More...

Monday, February 01, 2010 - GoGreen Association Newsletter

Bi-Monthly Newsletter February 1, 2010   Featured Article Over 80 U.S. Companies Call on President Obama & Congress To Enact Comprehensive Climate and Energy Legislation WASHINGTON, Jan. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 80 leading CEOs from U.S. businesses, including Exelon, Virgin America, NRG Energy, eBay and PG&E, sent a letter to President Obama and members of Congress today calling on them to move quickly to enact comprehensive climate and energy legislation that will create jobs and enhance U.S. competitiveness. Saying that the U.S. is "falling behind" in the global clean energy race, the letter calls for forceful leadership to achieve legislation that will unleash innovation, drive economic growth, boost energy independence and decrease our carbon emissions. The letter comes just one week before President Obama delivers his State of the Union address on January 27th."American businesses recognize this challenge and have already begun to respond and innovate. However, today's uncertainty surrounding energy and climate regulation is hindering the large-scale actions that American businesses are poised to make," the letter states. "We need strong policies and clear market signals that support the transition to a low-carbon economy and reward companies that innovate. It is time for the Administration and Congress to embrace this policy as the promising economic opportunity that will empower American workers to compete and American entrepreneurship to lead the way."The letter was signed by 83 CEOs from some of the nation's largest electric power, manufacturing, clean tech, technology and consumer facing companies.  To view the full text and the list of signatories please go to: http://www.wecanlead.org "The United States can't afford to fall behind in the global race to lead the new energy economy," said Jonathan Wolfson, CEO of Solazyme, a leading renewable oil and bioproducts company. "American businesses have a history of leadership and innovation and are poised to do that in a new clean energy economy." "Power companies need and want to be part of America's clean energy transition," said David Crane, president and CEO of NRG Energy Inc., which owns and operates more than 24,000 megawatts of electricity generation capacity in the U.S. "But we need the certainty of clear rules and strong policies that will help us invest in that transition while also addressing climate change and keeping power affordable." "The same inventive solutions that will help the environment will also help move the airline industry forward," said David Cush, president and CEO of Virgin America, a U.S. commercial passenger airline. "Big challenges have historically propelled more innovation and greater efficiencies. Strong climate and energy policies can be that challenge – one from which we will all emerge stronger." "Smart businesses can only do so much on their own to address climate change," said Stonyfield Farm CEO Gary Hirshberg.  "At this point, the rules need to change: there needs to be a price or tax on carbon.   This incentive for genuine innovation needs to be firmly in place in order for the US to compete effectively in the global race to a clean energy economy."  Peter A. Darbee, Chairman, CEO and President of PG&E Corporation said, "As the country looks to ways to support job creation, promote economic growth, and improve energy and national security, it's clear to leading businesses that smart, sensible energy and climate policies can and should be part of the solution. We are asking leaders to recognize this opportunity and make it a reality." About We Can Lead Business leaders from 150 companies from 30 states across the country joined the We Can Lead effort and traveled to Washington in early October 2009 to meet with Administration officials and more than 50 members of Congress to urge passage of comprehensive energy and climate legislation.  We Can Lead advocates for passage of strong energy and climate legislation that includes a price on carbon to spur American innovation, unleash U.S. investment, create millions of new jobs, restore America's competitiveness and provide for economic and national security. About GoGreen The Go Green Association is an International Trade Association run by B & B Expositions, Inc. for Manufacturing and Industry catering to North, Central, South America, the Caribbean and Globally. The Go Green Association is dedicated to the advancement of Sustainability, Conservation and Recycling. Go Green will help companies acquire knowledge and follow procedures that will lead to more environmentally and ecologically responsible decisions, to benefit the only planet we have to live on.  Mother Earth. Companies can decrease their carbon footprint and promote healthier manufacturing practices. Efficient management coupled with sustainable environmental and community practices improve both a company’s bottom line and the world around it. Learn how to save energy to save money. Mission  The Go Green Association was created to assist it’s members in acquiring new business, to network with their peers from all over the world at the Mattech Expo, and to address issues and concerns which could help a Manufacturer or Industrial Company become more streamlined and profitable while implementing Green Practices. Benefits 1. Members/Associate Members can have their logo and link displayed in our weekly News Letter. We will pick 2-3 each week. Send us your Logo in a jpeg format for consideration-it’s FREE. Send them to ianhow1@verizon.net   2. Have you seen our New Member benefits page? Check this out: http://www.dbsimarketing.com/finalgogreenlandingpage1109.html   3. Place a News Release or Advertisement here for FREE: http://gogreenassoc.com/News/tabid/175/language/en-US/Default.aspx The GoGreen Association 3354 17th Street Sarasota, Florida 34288 USA 941-320-3216 Register Today! Don't miss this year's expo.  Its going on in Miami Florida.  Click Here for more information and to register or book your booth. News Releases Send your news releases to us and you might have it / them published in our weekly newsletter, which will be sent to all of our members.